Happy Valentines Day!!

Happy Valentines Day to everyone celebrating and Happy Birthday to my birthday twin Lynn! I'll share her card at the end of this post. I'm laughing because the weatherman forecasts a high of 14F, very balmy(?!) for winter in MN. NOTE - photo heavy post ahead!!

I sent a bunch of Valentines but far fewer than Christmas cards, nor did I manage to get any Cards for Hospitalized Kids done. Oh well, next year.... I'll start with a pink/grey version of a card I made for the January Twofer Challenge. I used circles behind the hearts on the previous card but I left them off this one - I felt the paper wasn't as busy. Because I stamped a sentiment banner, I repeated a glitter heart since there are only five decorated heart dies with one solid heart in the set.The Twofer card went to a friend couple; the pink/grey one went to my brother and his wife. Would love to know which you like better.

Supplies: Paper - Grey Shimmer from Anchor Paper;
  American Crafts Valentine (from Target a few years ago)

Momenta Watercolor; Paper Studio vellum & glitter; 
Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 110 lb)

Dies - Penny Black All My Hearts;

Memory Box frame - free gift in Die Cutting Essentials magazine

My Favorite Things Blueprints (retired)  

Stamp - Hero Arts January 2020 My Monthly Hero kit

Other - foam tape; Memento Rosebud ink

Next, a card for my sister Tami in AZ. Had to squeeze in a hemstitch rectangle - love them (enabled by Lin to buy them this year...)

Supplies: Paper - DCWV pink A2 card; Neenah white and red;

Poptone Black Licorice; Doodlebug Swiss Dots; 
American Crafts patterned ; Momenta Watercolor
Dies - My Favorite Things; Spellbinders Hemstitch Rectangles;
 Penny Black All My Hearts
Stamps - Taylored Expressions Simple Strips Background (with die) and
Many Minis - Holiday (retired)

Next, a card for my parents, using the same patterned paper as above - just love it!! I used an old Hero Arts LOVE die set - I think the script looks so elegant. Popped it onto the Concord & 9th label and added some hearts & a little sentiment strip - done!

Supplies: Paper - DCWV pink A2 card; American Crafts Valentine; 
Momenta Watercolor; Poptone Black Licorice;
Neenah Classic Crest Solar White
Dies - My Favorite Things retired Blueprints; 
Hero Arts Love & Heart (retired)
Concord & 9th Happy Holidays Label Dies
Other - EK Success Sticko hearts

I shopped at Anchor Paper in January and found some fun Valentine supplies, including a candy heart set from Taylored Expressions. Before Christmas I found a fall set on sale there 40% off and used the wreath from that set - truly good for all year round depending on the colors you use! This card went to my auntie in WI.

Supplies - Paper - DCWV pink A2 card; Doodlebug Swiss Dots;
Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;
Poptone Black; Momenta Watercolor
Stamps - Hero Arts Autumn Wreath (with die) and retired Valentine sets
Taylored Expressions Filled with Love Stamp & Die Combo
Inks - various Distress Oxide and Memento

My baby sister got this card, made for another January challenge. Finally, the card I sent to Lynn - practically the same as a recent sketch challenge card but with red hearts and the added sentiment. If you think the hearts look like blood splatter, no worries - Lynn's a nurse!!

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 110 lb); 

Momenta Watercolor (pink); Paper Studio glitter

Stamps - Hero Arts January 2020 My Monthly Hero kit;

Your Next Stamp Mini Heart Ink Splatter

Dies - Penny Black All My Hearts

Inks - Memento Rose Bud; Distress Oxide Spun Sugar & Fired Brick

Thanks for bearing with all the photos! My parents got me a lovely cake from Hyvee, then my brother and his wife will celebrate with us tomorrow. Enjoy your day and thanks for stopping!!

Tutti fruity Twofer!

Hey there - I had a chance to wrap my mind around a Twofer Fruit Challenge - yikes! Fortunately I have a few fruity options and ended up going with a bunch of grapes.

I used an old Hero Arts clear set that I only remember using once before. Besides the grapes, it contains a citrus half, an apple, a pair of cherries, a strawberry and a pear. Here's my twofer:

I started out stamping & fussy cutting two bunches of grapes (actually had a third one stamped on purple cardstock which I didn't like) on Neenah using purple and green inks. Added a bit of purple Copic to fill in the grapes a bit more. I had this Spellbinders label set with leaves that reminded me of the grape leaves so decided to use that on the card at right (one I made first). But I'll share larger photos of each card and supply list starting with the card at left.

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White and purple cardstocks; 

lilac cardstock by unknown; Momenta Watercolor patterned paper; 

scrap of Authentique newsprint

Stamps - Hero Arts Engraved Fruits and A Little (both retired);

Simon Says Stamp Adult Beverages (retired, with coordinating die)

Your Next Stamp Coffee Rings

Dies - My Favorite Things Blueprints 20 (retired)

Other - Copic Markers; Distress Oxide inks; foam tape

Flipping through my stash, I spotted a wine glass which I thought worked well with the grape theme. Decided to create a patterned paper with the bunch of grapes and also added splatters and ring stains (labeled coffee on the set but hey...). I stamped and fussy cut the fun Hero Arts label, filing in the blank space with WINE (the set has a bunch of fill-in options). Stamped and die cut the wine glass. Seemed a bit busy with the pattern behind (maybe needed a mat?) so I decided to add an anchoring strip of newsprint on which to sit the label and wine glass. Snipped part of a grape bunch to rest beside the wine glass (a full bunch seemed to big). Decided to add the remaining grapes to my other bunch, hoping to disguise that my label stamping was a bit crooked.

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White; Paper Studio Holiday (green); 

Momenta Watercolor patterned paper; Authentique gingham

Stamps - Hero Arts Engraved Fruits (retired);

Penny Black Gratitude

Taylored Expressions Simple Strips Background (with coordinating die)

Dies - My Favorite Things Blueprints 21 (retired);

Spellbinders Botanical Bliss Beautiful Banner Basket (retired)

Other - Copic Markers; Distress Oxide inks; foam tape

I consider the card at left an encouragement card and I made the card at left a birthday card. The inside says "Time to Celebrate You! Happy Birthday!" Two more cards for the stash thanks to the Twofer Challenge!! Thanks to Darnell and crew for the fun challenge and thanks to you for stopping by!

Red poinsettia

Hey everyone - hope you had a great weekend! We got a pile of snow and are waiting to get plowed out. Perfect day for staying inside to craft!! I'm playing along at Christmas Kickstart Challenge #28 to use the color RED.

Challenge #28 - Red

I went right away to my Hero Arts poinsettia die from last year. While I made a bunch of cards with it for Christmas 2019, I have oodles more people who would love one in 2020. Here's my card:

Supplies: Paper - DCWV Ms Sparkle green A2 card;
Authentique Colorful Christmas (patterned paper);
Paper Studio Holiday & glitter cardstocks;
Neenah Classic Crest Solar White
Stamp - Hero Arts CL343 Holiday Sayings (retired)
Dies - Hero Arts DI656 Paper Layering Poinsettia;
Taylored Expressions Simple Strips
Ink - Pine Needles Distress Oxide

Another true confession of a crafty cover up - I had planned to use a plain green card but had to add the patterned paper at the bottom because the card front had a flaw. Didn't notice til the entire top section was glued down so that was my save. I'm fine with it, even like it. I was going a bit off the sketch we could use at the February Card Chain Challenge but oriented horizontally.

The poinsettia has 3 petal layers and a center and a leaf. I love the rich red from the Paper Studio Holiday cardstock pack and cut the 3 flower layers twice each. I curled the poinsettia petals a bit, rolling them gently around a pen. The darkened look to the petals in the photo are just shadows; I didn't add any ink or pen to them. Decided to cut the center piece from the glitter cardstock to match the strips. I didn't get the Taylored Expressions holiday strip stamps but I have plenty of other brands with narrow sentiments. I stamped one from an old fave from Hero Arts. Done!!

Well, I'd better do some practicing on chorus music. We have to audition on one of our new songs tomorrow night - hope I'm ready!! Thanks for stopping and thanks to Jo for another fun challenge!

Joy Poinsettia for CAS Christmas

Hi all - I'm popping in with a quick post - a super simple card for the current CAS Christmas Challenge.

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White; Poptone Black Licorice;

Paper Studio Glitter

Stamp - Hero Arts Stamp & Cut Poinsettia (retired)

Die - My Favorite Things Joy Die-namics

Ink - Spun Sugar Distress Oxide Ink

First I formed a top fold vertical A2 card with my Neenah 110 lb paper. Next I stamped the poinsettia with Spun Sugar ink and let dry thoroughly. I cut the Joy sentiment several times in black for layers and shadow, then in the silver glitter for the top layer. Adhered to card - done!! The poinsettia is from one of Hero Arts early stamp & cut sets. I love them and have MANY (too many some might say; I don't). I really liked how intense the pink got using the Distress Oxide, rather than regular Distress ink. Not a very original design and I noticed tonight that Vicky posted a card with a similar sketch only using a snowflake (I like hers better!!).

I was excited to see my January CAS Christmas card chosen as their Top Pick - woo hoo!! Really had fun with that one! You'll find me as a Guest Designer there for the March Challenge - I'm already busily thinking up a design. No hints as to the theme but it's a goodie!!

Hope you're enjoying a crafty week and thanks for stopping!!